Flap Wheel supplier recomendations please

The welcome message says I last visited on 31 Dec 2009, which perhaps explains why I've forgotten where everything is!
I'm looking to buy some 100 x 16 flapwheels (flapdiscs?) for my Makita angle grinder.
I'm a Hobby user, not Trade.

I recalled there was a supplier of flapwheels (abrasive disc wheels?) who sponsored a test by various users here, and whose products came out reasonably well, being both competitively priced AND with a long life.
I can't find the thread. I've used Search with both flapwheel and flap wheel, but got less that a dozen responses.
The other problem was that they seemed to be spread across various forums, so I'm not sure where to post this enquiry.

I've also looked in the Weldequip shop, but they are all 115mm discs with a 22mm hole.

I've just remembered the word Zirconium - is that still a recommended abrasive? I'm smoothing off sharp corners before painting, or de-painting before welding, or doing the final smoothing after excess weld has been removed with the grinding disc in the angle grinder.

Thanks.

Smith & Arrow, maybe?
Hitch, (from this forum), gave me a few of their (slitting discs) quite a while ago. Only used them recently, but they were damned good!
Thanks Hitch!
CJ

PS If it was that make, then the size you're after can be found here:-
http://www.smithandarrow.co.uk/html/Products/Abrasives-for-Metal-5/Flap-Discs-3/index.html
CJ

If my memory serves me correctly there was also a discount offered to forum members,I'm sure if you follow the thread you will find out how to do so, and check to see if it really is cheaper than the web site price, I believe Smith and Arrow also sell via ebay,see which will be your best option

The relevant thread is here, clicky, post no1 gives the instructions how to claim a forum discount, as far as I know it still works, it was ok when I bought some cutting discs a few weeks ago.
The original thread with the trial results is here,

Watch out for cheapo discs and wheels on the Silverline brand.
Garbage.
In fact anything on their label.

Chunko'.

TIG Paul, thanks for the links. At the end of my post I recalled Zirconium. Using that word as a Search term produced better results, and I found the thread with the discount code.
I also went on the Smith & Arrow web site and had built up an order. The flap disks were available but the 'while I'm here' 100x16 grinding wheels and thin cutting discs are out of stock.
Anyway, I went back and applied the code, and yes, it still knocks off 20%.

Following other comments I checked the ebay prices, and for the General Public the ebay prices were just cheaper, especially if you ordered more than one box of 10 (say 40 and 60 grade). But take the 20% discount into account and we still get a better deal.

I haven't placed the order yet as I want to find out how they handle orders for out of stock items. You never know, they might be in stock tomorrow!!

Chunkolini,
While reading search results I've come across several of your Silverline comments; I get the impression they have seriously upset you :-)
Nevertheless, I'll heed your advice, I do have some idea which side my bread is buttered!

Thanks for your help everyone, I think we can say this query has been settled - now to go and fine some of those abrasive drums for the 10x30 rubber arbors that come with Dremel style tools. I see Abrasives For Metal call them 'Spirabands'.

Cheers.

must agree with chunkolini re-silverline we had some of their screwdrivers at work & they were c**p also other things by them were pretty mediocre if you look at one of their catalogues they do a surprising amount of gear [not for me though]



slan go fol

i get my flap discs and 1mm cutting discs from toolstation.com spent a £10 get free next day delivery and yes the flap disc are sliverline but i have used about 20+ and not had no problems and they last along time and they are only £1.58 & 1mm cutting discs £1.10

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Abrasives/Power+Sanding/Flap+Discs+115mm+40+grit/d130/sd1790/p61962

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Abr...tting+Disc+115+x+1+x+222mm/d130/sd1750/p35514

I've tried most of them and found Klingspor to be far the best for the flap discs and thin cutting wheels

Hello all,

Nice to hear the forum discount is still up and running.

Davidss, I have stock being put on the shelves as of the next couple of days. Message me in private and I will send you a pack of Flap Discs for taking the time to seek us out again!

Apart from our already extensive range of cutting and grinding wheels and our excellent Zirconia Flap discs that we offer on our website for as low as £1.70 (£1.36 after the forum discount is applied), I would like to take the opportunity to introduce members to a couple of new products in our range.

In the UK, we now have a very sharp little 75mm x 0.8mm INOX grade Stainless Steel cutting wheel for a high speed air tool - wonderful for car panels etc. As well as this we now also offer a 180mm x 1.6mm INOX grade Stainless Steel cutting wheel and a 400mm x 3.7mm INOX grade Stainless Steel Drop/Chop saw blade.

Finally, the website will also offer our new range of the highest quality Zirconia resin fiber discs in 40, 60, 80, and 120 grits in 115mm and 125mm sizes.

For all those that took the time to help Davidss out with directions to our discount offer and testing thread, a big thankyou. Smith & ARROW is a small family business and as the owner I am most grateful for the support we have received from this forum.

Cheers

Ben

Ben Ferguson
Managing Director

HPH Abrasives Pty Ltd
Smith & ARROW (Australia) Pty Ltd
Smith & ARROW (UK) Limited

Mob: +61 (0)408 158 407
Email: ben@smithandarrow.com
Web: www.smithandarrow.com

langy said:

I've tried most of them and found Klingspor to be far the best for the flap discs and thin cutting wheels

Click to expand...

Amen, good kit

I feel I ought to round this off by saying that the 100x16 grinding discs and flap discs that I wanted arrived on 20th July, so obviously stock is now back on the S&A shelf.
My previous experience was with consumables based on either 'as cheap as I could buy', or 'easily available in a shop nearby'. These seem to be in a different (better) league; for instance, black mill scale, which I've seen people regard as difficult to remove, just disappeared.

Having started this thread, I felt I ought to follow up all the recommendations made, but a lot of them fell at the size hurdle, they do not do the 100x16 which I want (I find the smaller and lighter grinder easier to handle).

Thanks for your help, David.

Hi David,

Thanks for your feedback - it is appreciated, and thanks for the business. We go to a lot of trouble with the quality on all of our range.

Our stock is back on the shelf now, however, we have had an issue with the 100mm x 1mm INOX Grade Cutting Wheels which were pilfered en route. To cover this and get stock out to customers that have been waiting very patiently, we have Couriered via TNT 1000 units from Australia which will be sent from London to these customers - we hope - towards the end of this week. I believe these customers have also been compensated for the inconvenience and in 4 weeks we will be back in Stock in this product as well.

Back to the flap discs, I have seen a few posts on this site comparing the difference in thickness of our discs and other brands – making the argument that there is “more meat” on other products and therefore they are superior.

Flap discs are amazingly complex tools. Their effectiveness in use, and how long they last depends on 3 or 4 critical variables – the thickness of the disc, in my opinion, being one of the least important.

We have tested some very thick bulky aggressive looking Flap Discs that – in terms of effectiveness were next to useless. They looked really heavy duty but just did not remove the material. At the time I remember likening them to a body builder in a bar room fight - apologies to any body builders J

The only way to compare two flap discs is to put them to work on the same material with the same user on the same day. You will see some surprising results. 90% of a the effectiveness and the efficiencies of a Flap Disc is in the layering of grits, the bonding, and the fabric – they needs to cut effectively at a constant capacity for as long as possible before giving away as cleanly as possible to expose the grit on the the layer underneath. There are design trade-off and relationships of complexity between materials here that are not so straight forward – in short, the simple flap disc is not as silly as it looks!

Well a good one isn’t anyway!

Thanks again for the feedback David.

Cheers

Ben Ferguson
Managing Director

Smith & ARROW Inc
HPH Abrasives Pty Ltd

Mob: +61 (0)408 158 407
Email: ben@smithandarrow.com
Web: www.smithandarrow.com